Michael Jackson and the Presidents

Michael Jackson and then-first lady Barbara Bush walk near the Rose Garden at the White House in this 1980's file photo in Washington, D.C. (REUTERS/Rick Wilking/Files)

By Garance Franke-Ruta
Old music has the capacity to at once be evocative of the past and utterly familiar in the present, but old images still somehow produce a shock.

The passing of "the man in the mirror" has prompted an outpouring of music from Michael Jackson's quarter-century and more of performing, but also of photos and videos from moments in his life and the era in which his fame as a solo artist blossomed. Today, as his fans memorialize him and again play songs that tie us to the past, these photos and videos continue to show how great the temporal and cultural distance from his early years is.

However much times changed, though, Jackson managed to place himself in the thick of things when he wanted to; pictures of Jackson meeting with presidents from Carter to Clinton follow the jump.

Jimmy Carter greets Michael Jackson in this undated photo.

Michael Jackson stands with President Ronald Reagan, left, and first lady Nancy Reagan on the south lawn of the White House prior to receiving an award from the president for his contribution to the drunk driving awareness program in this May 14, 1984. (AP Photo/Scott Stewart, file)

President-elect Bill Clinton shakes hands with Michael Jackson as singer Stevie Nicks of the band Fleetwood Mac sings at the finale of a star-studded gala on the eve of Clinton's first inauguration as president of the United States in Washington in this January 19, 1993 file photo. (REUTERS/Stringer/Files)

Michael Jackson appears on stage with President-elect Bill Clinton, his daughter Chelsea and Diana Ross during the celebrations at the Lincoln Memorial for the inauguration in this January 17, 1993 file photo. (REUTERS/Stringer/Files)

It is a great loss to the entire music world. Maybe he is the only singer and dancer almost all the people in the world can easily remember, because he was in such a fame and glory. Don’t walk like Michael Jackson was the comment we used to pass on to our school singers and dancers. Thriller still thrills millions in the world. However, his personal life never shadows his musical life. He has left such a legacy that no one can replace him. From layman to elite enjoyed and will enjoy his music. Legends are born only, they don’t die. He will live on till the music world ends. Prem Nizar Hameed

I don't know exactly what they are trying to prove,with Michael Jackson. I think they are trying to wipe out the memory of Elvis and have Michael in his place.That Michael Jackson Fans will never happen, Elvis was the KING of Rock and Roll and will always be. Elvis did not blow $400 million, money was differnt when Elvis was recording and doing personal appearenaces,who can tell how far Elvis would have gone if video's were around when he was alive. But he did make 33 movies,and he was a movie star also, Elvis served his country Honorable when he was called, in the middle of his prime, Why wasn't Michael in the service? Michael did his thing and did it well, but I'm an Elvis Fan. I repect what he (Michael) did for music, his personal life like Elvis's was wreck waiting to happen.If like Elvis so many of Michael's friends cared, where were they when both needed them.Micheal married Lisa Marie because he was an Elvis wanna be. You can tell by the glasses he wore and the way he dressed,kinda like Elvis. Elvis never had to leave the country, Michael did cause things got so bad he had to. Elvis was also voted entertainer of the centry. I'm also sure now that Michael has passed he would out poll Elvis in today's world. Elvis for his time was a great entertainer, Michael for his time was a great entertainer. Let us all young and old appreicate what we all had when they were alive and doing there thing.May they both rest in peace...

IT IS TIME TO GIVE UP ON JOCKO.THE AMERICAN PUPLIC HAVE HAD TO LISTEN TO THE NEWS ABOUT HIS DEATH.THE MEDIA HAS GIVEN MORE COVERAGE OF THIS EVENT THAN TO TWO OTHER CELEBERITIES.FARRAH AND ED.IT WAS TOO BAD THEY DID NOT GET AS MUCH COVERAGE .THERE WAS VERY LITTLE MENTION OF HIS LIFE STYLE WITH LITTLE BOYS.HOW MUCH LONGER ARE WE TO HEAR ABOUT HIM.HE SURE DID NOT DESERVE THE AIR TIME.HE MAT HAVE MADE MORE MONET THAN ELVIS RECORDS BUT THE RECORDS COST LESS.THAT IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT ELVIS MADE AND JOCKO.SO GIVE UP NOW AND GO BACK TO REPORTING IMPORTANT NEWS.BY THE WAY,THE MATTER WITH LITTLE BOYS IS A KNOWN FACTS BUT NEVER PROVEN BRCAUS THE PARENTS WERE PAID OOFF.NO MORE NEED BE SAID.I IMAGINE YOU WILL REMOVE THESE REFERENCES.

May the ghost of MJackson soon fade into the cosmos. I'm so sick of the media blitz about MJ that I could scream. The self-indulgent "memorial" obliterated all airwaves yesterday, and he's still in the news today. Enough!!! I'm glad Obama was in Russia where he couldn't be hounded for some maudlin pean of adulation for this freakish song-and-dance man whose drug addiction caused his own demise.